I've flown Virgin to Orlando about a dozen times and never once had a problem. (apart from a flight that had to turn back to gatwick for a technical snag, but that could happen to any airline).

You will get a good mixture of replies, some will be Pro BA and anti Virgin, and some the other way around.

With so many people flying these two airlines, it's only to be expected that there will be people who have had bad experiences with their flights.

To be honest, I don't think it's really possible to say which is best as it's down to personal opinion. You could get an on time departure, really good cabin crew, an excellent choice of IFE, but then get your flight spoilt by having a "passenger from hell" beside or behind you.

Whilst this is pretty much out of the airlines control, it will still stick in your mind as being a terrible flight.

The Flight Co V Flight Co debate always brings lots of comments, everyone has their success story and a lot of people have their nightmare stories, it only takes 1 bad experience to blacken a companies reputation in a persons eyes.

Whilst 1 person may say BA gave a perfect flight if you flew with them you may experience problems or vice versa. The only thing you can guarantee is no consistency !! It appears that nobody can guarantee a smooth flight, on time, with all In Flight Entertainment working, nice food, lots of drinks and nice friendly polite hostess's looking after you.

I've flown with Virgin & BA and nothing has swayed me to say that either are 'bad companies' as I haven't experienced anything bad.

Hows that for sitting on the fence ?!?!

One of the problems you have is living in Devon.

with the cost in time an money to get to any airport that flies direct to Florida.

Your nearest I guess would be Bristol but neither of these companies fly from there . But First Choice do and are better then both. but might be more costly. I would seriously look at getting a flight from your nearest regional airport to one that gives you the best price with any Airline . That might be Manchester, Birmingham or the London airports . If you are traveling by train the choices may not be much better.

Just be aware you might get a BA flight Via Chicago, but Virgin fly direct

when looking at feedback about airlines ignore XR he is always very negative about BA.

Both airlines are very good and go with which everone is easier for you from your location.

I tend to prefer BA, only because I get a discount as a shareholder. Basically, these days I choose between the two on price and convenience of departure/arrival times. And sometimes that means Virgin (twice in 2007).

Ive just returned with BA and found them excellent, we missed our connection back to manchester as we flew in from new york but it was handled very well by BA and no stress etc.

Not done virgin to orlando but have on other destinations and also very good, but thought the crews and service with BA was good.

Service imo was outstanding and they were always very efficient and calm.

Terminal 5 is a big terminal to transit through so id look at the most direct flights from your home town.

I would choose Virgin purely because of the Downtown disney check in facility which allows you to drop your cases off at 8am in the morning on the last day and you have the rest of the day free without luggage.

Otherwise I would just choose the cheaper of the two...

I am always negative about BA, Because as a national airline it does not serve the nation very well, and I see nothing positive about them.

It may well serve the south east well but we all dont live there.

If you live north of the Watford gap your forgotten. And want to fly from Manchester, Glasgow or Edinburgh it not only becomes expensive but you always get a one stop and sometimes two stops.

Traveling times from Manchester according to BA own web site is between 14 and 17 hours. Virgin and other charter airlines 9 hours.

BA fans get up tight when I tell people these facts that BA doesn't fly to Orland from Manchester, (or Glasgow & Edinburgh for that matter) .

They fly to the London airports and give you a one stop which extends you traveling time by quite a lot..

Some of the tickets they hand out fly into Heathrow where you then have to do a 45 min bus ride to Gatwick, which you have pay extra for. Or they put you on AA Airlines to Chicargo for another plane change. Or do that route on the way back.

Who wants all this hassel when for the same money you can get a bigger seat on First Choice/Thomas Cook aircraft at Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, and fly direct in eight and a half hours and have more room and comfort. Or fly Driect with Virgin.

If you live near the London airports BA are fine but no better than the rest. If yo live in Devon or the north of fngland they are a painfull and expensive to use.

This might be negitive. But it is also "Fact"

Thats what Hippo182 asked for.

From London, we prefer BA over Virgin or a charter, but go on price/convenience of flight times. They are all pretty similar.

XR, have you ever flown BA to Orlando from LGW? Suspect not. So how is it "your experience"? or indeed how is it "a fact" to say "BA is no better?"